"She left singing voice mails," chortled Johnson, the 2011
Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year. "The Terp fight
song."

Given what she knows now about the first two years of the
junior's already brilliant career, Reese might have been inclined
to compose, stage and perform an opera if it meant the 5-foot-7
attacker from Annapolis, Md., would come to College Park.

Johnson has been that good since a 2009 rookie campaign in which
she produced 74 goals, 13 assists and 71 draw controls for the
Terps, who fell to North Carolina in a national semifinal.

In 2010, there was no sophomore slump for the two-time
first-team All-American, whose versatility already makes her one of
the most valuable players in Maryland's storied history.

The Broadneck High grad led her team in goals (69) and draw
controls (71) while becoming a terrific re-defender who caused 24
turnovers and vacuumed 27 ground balls.

Johnson capped off the season in fine fashion, scoring three
times in the Terps' 13-11 streak-busting triumph over Northwestern
in the national championship game. Maryland is 43-2 with Johnson in
the fold.

After all that, what can she do for an encore?

"There are always things you can do better," Johnson said. "I'd
like to be more dynamic, work from the top better, dodging, to make
more connections. I think we have an amazing team coming back. And
our coaches give us the freedom to play. They have great confidence
in us."

Although she's become a big name in her sport, Johnson was a
no-name when she returned from the hospital as a newborn with her
parents, Kelly and Jeffrey.

By the time they named her Karri (CAR-ee) Ellen, she was already
tagged "Puddy," the moniker still used by her teammates and
parents.

"It sounds so weird when people call me Karri Ellen," she said.
"Nobody I know well does that."

Defenders probably have other names for her, many of which could
be unsuitable for a family publication.

Her coach, though, does nothing but — pardon the
expression — sing her praises.

"She's one of the players that, even as a coach and someone who
played, you're wowed by her," said Reese, now in her fifth year at
her alma mater after a successful stint at Denver. "From a coach's
perspective, she's just fun to watch — so creative and an
outstanding shooter-scorer."

To prove the point, Johnson's shooting percentage (.519) last
spring was the best on the team for anyone with more than 31
shots.

"I'm trying to be fitter and faster," said Johnson, adept at
using her 5-foot-7 frame to keep defenders at bay. "You have to let
them (defenders) know that you're there."